Load moving attachment for tractors



March 1953 w. H. SILVER E1- AL 2,630,232

LOAD MOVING ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS FIG.

INVENTORS March 3, 1953 w, H. SILYER ET AL 'LQAD MOVING ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 23, 1946 N wE.

INVENTORS WALTER H. SILVER HR AN March 3, 1953 w. H. SlLVER' .ET'AL 2,530,232

LOAD MQV'ING ATTACHMENT m2 Tamar-ms 4 Sheets-Shee t'. 3

Filed Dec. 23, 1946 INVENTORS WALTER H. SILVER l LIA V. LOHRMAN W. H. SILVER ET AL LOAD MOVING ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS March 3, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed' Dec. 23', 1946 INVENTORS WALTER H. SILVER ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 3, 1953 LOAD MOVING ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS Walter H. Silver, Moline, Ill., and William V. Lohrman, Davenport, Iowa, assignors to Deere & Company, Moline, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 23, 1946, Serial No. 718,086

4 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to earth-working implements and more particularly to tractor mounted implements, such as mobile power operated scoops, scrapers, bulldozers and the like.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of a tractor mounted load moving machine adapted to be mounted on a farm tractor and controlled by the power lift unit of the tractor. Another feature of this invention is the provision of a tractor mounted earth moving device so constructed and arranged as to be automatically dumped when the load engaging section of the machine is raised to a given height. Additionally, it is a further fea-' ture of this invention to provide means whereby the load engaging means, which may be a scoop or other load carrying unit, may be raised an adequate amount without having the frame of the load carrier interfere with the proper raising of the unit.

Another important feature of the present invention is the provision of a tractor mounted load moving machine arranged to be equipped optionally with either a scoop for carrying loads or a transverse blade for pushing loads, with new and improved means for attaching and carrying the load engaging means of either type. Still further, another feature of this invention is the provision of new and improved means for changing the angular position of the scraper blade.

An additional feature of the present invention is the provision of new and improved lifting means whereby when it is desired to raise the load engaging means, which is at the front of e the implement frame, the front end of the frame is raised but the rear end is lowered thereby providing for a higher lift of the load engaging means than would otherwise be possible. Another feature of this invention is the provision of a load engaging means adapted to be mounted on a tractor having a vertically swingable drawbar operated by the power lift unit of the tractor, in connection with means whereby the drawbar receives the major portion of the thrust and, at the same time, forms a part of the raising and lowering mechanism.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a tractor mounted scoop or land leveler in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Figure l, the tractor being shown in dotted lines in order to show the implement parts more clearly.

Figure 3 is a side view similar to Figure 1,

iii)

2 showing the position of the implement when the latter is raised into its dumping position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view showing a scraper carried by the implement frame in place of the scoop shown in Figures 1-3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the implement shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged view taken generally along the line 66 of Figure 4.

Figure I is an end view of the scraper blade taken generally along the line 1-1 of Figure 5, showing its mounting on the implement frame.

Figure 8 is an enlarged view showing the inner connection of the scraper blade brace.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly Figures 1 and 2, the reference numeral l indicates a farm tractor of the four wheel type. having front wheels 2 and rear wheels 3 journaled for rotation on axle shafts 5 carried by a rear axle 6. The tractor includes a power plant I and a power lift unit 8 of the hydraulic type, including suitable valve mechanism V and other necessary parts, such as a pair of lift arms II and links i2 connecting the arms H to lugs l3 formed on the s de members I 4 of a generally vertically swingable tractor drawbar or bail member l5. The latter is preferably in the form of a U-shaped member, considered as a whole, and includes a rear section [6, the side members being pivoted, as at ll, to drop housings which form a part of the rear axle structure. The two power lift arms I l are clamped or otherwise fixed in any suitable manner to the ends of a power lift rockshaft l9 which forms a part of the hydraulic unit 8, and the forward end of each of the drawbar members I 4 is provided with a generally vertically extending arm 20, the arms 20 being movable generally in a fore and aft direction while the rear portion of the drawbar I5 is swung generally vertically by power derived from the tractor power lift unit 8. This unit is of the type that may be moved into different positions and hydraulically locked in that position against downward movement under the control of the valve mechanism V.

The tractor is of the type especially adapted for receiving a number of different quick detachable implements, and to this end the frame of the tractor carries an attaching plate 22 at each side, each plate 22 carrying a clamping nut member 23 threaded onto a stud 24. Also, the body of the tractor is provided with a pair of attaching sections 25, preferably formed on the clutch housing of the tractor motor M, each of said attachin sections including a tapped opening in which studs or the like may readily be mounted.

The earth working implement with which the present invention is more particularly concerned comprises a pair of drawbar extensions 3!, each being in the form of a bell crank having a vertical section 32 and a generally forwardly extending section 33. The bell crank BI is apertured, as at 36, to engage over and be pivotally mounted on the cylindrical bearing bushing 37 by which the associated tractor drawbar side member I4 is pivotally mounted on the pivot bolt H that is carried by the drop housing IB' at that side of the tractor. The upper end of the bell crank section 32 is provided with a pivot pin 38 which extends not only through an opening in the'section 32 but also an opening in the upper end of the arm 28 that forms a part of the associated drawbar side member i4. 'By virtue of'connections just described, the two drawbar extensions 31 are rigidly connected to the tractor di'awbar or bail member I and move therewith when the itractor drawbar is swung upwardly or "down- Wardly byoperation of the tractor power lift unit 8. A cylindrical bearing member 39 is-secured,

as by welding, to the outer'end of the bell crank arm 33, and the two drawbar extensions 3l are rigidly connected together by a-pair'of L-shaped braces 44 and 45 firmly secured togetherf'a's by bolts 46.

The frame 56 of the tractor mounted implement comprises a pair of laterally spaced 'generally longitudinally extending tubular frame' bars 5| and 52,'suitably connected-together by rigid cross braces 53 and 55-, preferably welded t'othe tubular frame bars 51 and52wThe rear end 'ofeach of the-tubular frame bars 5 l and 52 is pro'vided'with a pivot member 55'having one leg 56 received in :each end extended laterally outwardlybeyond the associated framebar and apertured, as at 59, to receive lifting means described below. The

forward end-of each of the tubular frame members'5l and 52 is reenforced'by a brace bar 62 welded to the upper sde of each frame bar, and

'each brace bar 62 may be notched to extend'over adjacent portions 'of 'theforward cross brace member 54, 4 I

A-n'earth engagin unit in the form of a scoop 65 is carried at the front end'of the frame-50.

The scoop 65 comprises a bottom sheet GB'having a sharpened cutting blade 61 secured to the forward edge thereof, the sheet 85 extending upwardly and rearwardly and forming a rear portion 68 the upper edge of which is reenforced by a cross angle 68. End plates ll of the proper shape are secured, as by welding, to the ends'of the sheet sections '66 and 68, and the latter are reenforcedbyscoop runners .3 also secured,'as by welding, to the sheet sections and 68. A scoop pivot E5 is secured to each end of the scoop -B5,and each scoop pivot comp-rises a stud I6 and a plate T! to which the stud i6 is welded or otherwise secured, and which in turn is secured as by welding to the associated scoop end 7|. Each "scoop end also carries a stop or abutment 18 to 'whichreference will be made below.

- r The scoop S5 is pivotally mounted on the front end of the frarre fill, and to this end a transverse 'tubular member 8! is provided at its ends'with a pair of studs E32 and 83 which are adapted to seat in the open forward ends of the tubular frame bars 5! and 52. A bolt l 64 extends through openings in the frame bars and the studs for rigidly holding the pivoted member 8| to the frame bars 51 and 52. Centrally,'but in laterally spaced apart relation, the tubular member BI the associatedsh'aft 9B. "the'arm 91-, each ofthe pivot shafts 96 carries carries a pair of upwardly extendin locking arms 85, the upper ends of which are apertured to receive a locking detent member 86 that is pivoted, as at 90, at the ends of the arms 85.

- The detent member 86 is provided with a forward nose portion-8! that is adapted to engage over the edge of the scoop angle 69, when the latter is in earth engaging position, as will be explained below, and the rear portion of the detent 86 is extended, as at 9|, to form a tractor engaging portion to which reference will be made below.

"-an'inner attach ng arm 93 which is welded to the's'haft -96. The outerarm 91 of each of the shafts 96 is provided with a cylindrical bearing member IOI 'tha-t'is adapted to receive the scoop stud" lfi'at that side of'the tractor, and each "arm 91'is extended: beyond the bearing member TM, as indicated at 91a As best shown in Figure 2, when the shafts 96 and associated structure are mountedin position in the tubular bearing member 8| that'isc'arried'at the front end of theframe 50, the arms 9'! embrace the sides 30 are apertures to receivea pivot bolt {04 or other of the scoop 65; Theouter ends of the arms 98 suitable'means byf'whicheach arm 98 may be securelynxed to the forward end of the assojciate'd frame bar, and when the bolts ice are 35' M in the'bearing member BI, and at the same time.

tightened, the two'shafts95 are held in position each bearing section IUI on the side arms 9'5 is heldin 'engagementwith the a sociated stud "l5 on'the' 'sco'o'p, thereby providing for pivotal 'movement'ofthe scoop relative to the front end 'of the'fra'medfl. The shafts and associated parts are further held in position by cotters I08 which are disposed in apertures in the outer ends of the'scoop studs I6. The pivotal movement of the scoop 65 relative to the frame is limited in the downward direction by the stops or abutments 18, "into contact with the extended ends ll'la' of the arrnsl l, and the latch member 86 'is normally held in latched engagement with the upper flangeof the' angle 69 of the scoop by means of a spring l0! or the like, one end of which is connected with the latch 86 and the other end of which is connected with a pin or other fastening carried by the arms 85.

The front end of the frame 1!), and the load carrying scoop mounted thereon, are raised and lowered 'by'me'ans adapted to be mounted on the 'tractorand which preferably comprises a pair of lifting arms III in the form of bell cranks, each including a forwardly extending section'llZ and a downwardly extending sec- "tiori H3, each being apertured. A chain H is connected at its upper end to a bolt or pin to the forward end of the horizontal bell crank section H2, the lower end of the chain H4 being connected with a certain amount of looseness or'slack to the forward portion of the associated frame bar 5| or 52, and the other bell arm I! i is rigidly connected, as by welding or the like. A brace member I23 is apertured at its forward end to receive the outer end of the stud I 2! the brace member I 23 being shaped as shown in Figure l and at its rear end apertured to pass over the stud 24 at that point whereby tightening the screw or clamping member 23 serves to rigidly fasten the brace I23 in position. Similarly, the stud I21 is carried at the left side of the tractor on the attaching section 25 and receives a sleeve I28 that forms a part of the left hand lifting bell crank I Ila. A brace I29 serves to connect the outer end of the stud I2! with the attaching stud 2 on the left side of the tractor.

The operation of the implement so far described is substantially as follows. When it is desired to move a quantity of soil or other load, as for leveling off portions of the land or for other uses, the tractor power lift unit 8 is operated as to lower the drawbar I5. This acts through the extension arms 3! to raise the rear end 0 the frame 59 and, at the same time, lower the lift arm sections IIZ, thus permitting the scoop to engage the ground, the scoop 65 normally being held against pivoting relative to the frame It by virtue of the latch 85. The parts are so arranged that in this position there is a certain amount of slack in the chain II 4, and when the tractor I is driven forwardly the scoop enters the ground and removes portions of the soil therefrom. Normally the chain H4 is slack, but when the load is completed, the tractor power lift unit valve V is operated to raise the tractor drawbar 55. This swings the drawbar arms 25} forwardly, and at the same time the forward ends of the drawbar extensions 33 swing downwardly, thus lowering the rear portion of the implement frame 56 while raising the upper portion. It will be noted that the front end of the frame It passes underneath and forward of the front axle F of the tractor I and that the scoop or load receiving means 65 is disposed forwardly thereof. Where the frame passes underneath the front axle of the tractor, the vertical movement of the frame is somewhat limited, and therefore, according to the principles of the present invention, in order to secure adequate lift for the scoop for dumping and transporting purposes, and also to distribute the load of raising the filled scoop, th connections described above act to lower the rear end of the frame I0 downwardly while raising the front end thereof upwardly. This gives the desired angular change in the position of the scoop, between ground engaging and transport positions, without requiring that the frame be lifted to excessive heights. The load may be carried by raising the scoop upwardly to a point just about where the rear portion at of the latch 53% is adjacent but yet out of contact with an adjacent portion of the tractor. Then by operating the tractor power lift to raise the'front end of the frame it an additional amount, the latch section 9| engages the adjacent portion of the tractor and the latch is tripped, thus permitting the scoop 65 to pivot forwardly, the pivot studs it being arranged well to the rear so that when loaded the scoop tends to tip forwardly. The latch 85 is restored to locking position by dropping the front end to the ground, which swings the scoop 65 on the pivots into position permitting the nose 81 of the latch 86 to engage over the edge of the angle 65.

For bulldozing operations and similar work, it

may be desirable to substitute a transverse or angled blade for the scoop 55. To this end, we

provide a scraper blade and attaching connections to take the place of the scoop 65 and its attaching connections and the scraper blade and associated parts will now be described.

A transverse scraper blade I65 is mounted, as by bolts I66, on a transverse scraper blade support I61, and the lower edge of this scraper blade is provided with a sharpened scraper bar I68 secured to the blade proper by bolts I69 or the like. A pair of bearing members I?!) are fixed, as by the bolts I66 and I69, to the scraper blade I65, each bearing member including a vertical apertured plate I73 having a forward curved edge welded to a curved attaching plate I'M which is apertured to receive the bolts I56 and I69. A bearing bushing I76 is disposed in the aperture in each of the plates I2 3 and is welded thereto. Each bearing bushing I76 constitutes a cylindrical member which is apertured at one side and in line with said aperture is a nut member I" securely welded to the member IIt. A transverse supporting shaft IBI has its end portions disposed in the bearing members I76, and centrally the shaft I8I has an arm I82 welded at its lower end thereto and apertured at its upper end to receive a pair of blade adjusting straps I33, one end of each of which is pivoted at I8 to the upper end of the arm I52. The pair of straps I83 are provided with a number of openings I85. A pair of shaft bearing assemblies 981 are disposed on the shaft I3I, one being a right hand unit and the other being a left hand unit, disposed on opposite sides of the arm I 32. Each shaft bearing assembly I8! includes a sleeve section I 83, an arm I89 secured, as by welding, to the inner end of the associated sleeve I88, and a vertical pivot sleeve I 5i that i welded to the other end of the horizontal sleeve I88. The outer ends of the arms I89 are apertured, as at I93, and loosely receive a transverse pin I90 which extends through a selected one or any of the openings I35 in the adjusting straps I83. It will be noted that the two sleeves I88 are mounted on the shaft IS! with a certain amount of lost motion between the ends of the shaft NH and the central arm I82. A pair of connectors I are provided for mounting the two shaft bearing assemblies 28'! on the front ends of the frame It. To this end, each of the connectors E95 comprises a rod or shaft member having its longer leg 2% provided with a number of apertures I9! and its other leg I98 extended at substantiall right angles to the main body of the member I 98. The longer end I95 of each of these connectors is adapted to be inserted in the open forward end of the associated frame bar 5I or 52, and the other or angled end portion I98 is adapted to be disposed in a vertical position and inserted through the associated vertical bearing sleeve section I9 I. Cotters or the like are provided for holding the parts in assembled relation, and by disposing the bolts I04 in the proper openings I9 1, the connectors I 95 may be arranged to hold the blade in exactly a transverse position or in an angled position, as desired; The provision for limited sliding movement of the sleeves I88 on the supporting shaft IBI accommodates the necessary adjustment in a lateral direction of the bearing members I9! when the connectors I95 are arranged to dispose the blade in a diagonal position. The blade is raised and lowered by operation of the power lift unit in substantially the same way as described above in connection with the scoop 65.

The shaft l 8| is provided with-set screwreceiving sockets 201 to receive set screws .266 threaded into the nuts. i'li and theopenings in the sleeve sections I76, whereby the shaft I81 is rigidly secured to the blade. Also, the outer ends of the blade are reenforced by diagonal brace rods.203, the outer ends of which are bolted, as at 204, to the blade, and the inner end of each of which is arranged to receive the set screw. 206, whichcarries an extra nut 201 which, when tightened against the rod 203, holds the latter firmly to the bearing member [.10 associated therewith.

The operation of the scraper shown in Figures 4-7, so far as, raising and. lowering is concerned, is substantially as described above. The scraper may .be disposed in a transverse position, or by taking out one ofthe bolts I04 and sliding the associatedmember J95 forwardly in the front end of the tubular frame receiving it, the scraper may be disposed in an angled position. The,tilt of the scraper may be adjusted by removing the vpin [90 and inserting it in one of the other: holes broader aspects of our invention.

What we claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. For use in a load moving machine including a mobile support,-the improvement comprising a generally longitudinally extending frame means, load receivingmeans at the front end of said frame means, a first movable supporting means adapted to be movably carried 011 the generally forward portion. of said mobile support, a second 'supporting means adapted to be movably mounted on said support generallyrearwardly of said first supporting means, motion-reversing means interconnecting said first and second supporting meansso that when one portion of one of said supporting means moves generally upwardly one portion of the other supporting means moves generally downwardly, means connecting the generally forward portion of said frame means with said one portion of said one supporting means, meansconnecting the generally rear portion of said longitudinal frame means with said one portion of said other-supporting means, and means connected with-said first and second supporting means for operating them so as to raise and lower said frame means and the load receiving means carried thereby.

2. A tractor mounted load moving machine adapted to be mounmd on a tractor having a rear drawbar swingable generally about a transverse axis, said machine comprising frame means, arm means adapted to be connected rigidly with said tractor drawbar and to "swing therewith about said transverse axis, means for connecting the rear end of said frame means with said arm means, whereby movement of the latter about said transverse axis serves to raise and lower the rear end of said frame means, load receiving means carried at the front end of said frame means, raising and lowering means ai tractor dr rat 9 1 t s aced m th H forward portion of said arm means, and said raising and lowering means, whereby movement of said tractor drawbar acts through said arm means and said raising and lowering means for raising and lowering said load receiving means relative to the tractor.

3. A tractor mounted load moving machine adapted to be mounted on a tractor having a rearswingably mounted drawbar and a power unit-for swinging said drawbar, said load moving machine comprising load moving means, a lever. adapted to be mounted on the tractor for- -ward of the tractor drawbar and including a portionswingable upwardly when the rear portion of said tractor drawbar is swung upwardly,

means connecting said load moving means at a point spaced rearwardly of the front end thereof H latter is swung downwardly said part is swung upwardly,.and means for connecting the rear portion of said load moving means with said part, whereby when the rear portion of said tractor is swung upwardly, the rear portion of said load moving means is moved downwardly while the forward portion of said load moving means is moved upwardly.

,4. A load carrying machine adapted to be attached to a tractor having a rear generally vertically swingable drawbar movable about a .generallytransverse axis adjacent the rear of the tractor, said machine comprising frame means comprising a pair of generally longitudinally extending laterally spaced frame bars adapted to be disposed along the underside of the tractor, means including a pair of attachment arms, means for connecting the rear ends of said arms with the forward portion of the tractor drawbar, whereby movement of the latter about said transverse axis serves to raise and lower the forward portions of said attachment arms, means for connecting the rear ends of said frame bars with the forward ends of said attachment arms, load carrying means connected with the front ends of said frame bars, means adapted to be mounted on the tractor and operatively connected with the tractor drawbar and the front ends of said frame bars for raising and lowering the latter, and means for operatively connecting said bar raising and lowering means with said tractor drawbar.

WALTER H. SILVER. WILLIAM V. LOHRMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date.

1,703,275 Lessmann Feb. 26, 1929 1,703,600 Sell Feb. 26, 1929 1,958,269 Green May 8, 1934 1,973,950 Frank Sept. 18, 1934 2019,854 Hester Nov. 5, 1935 2,238 346 Sorensen Apr. 15, 1941 2,295,898 Hollis Sept. 15, 1942 2,300,843 Norwood Nov. 3, 1942 2,307,655 Arps Jan. 5, 1943 2,313,534 Gledhill Mar. 9, 1943 2,314,475 Bird et al. Mar. 23, 1943 2,356,600 Lentz Aug. 22, 1944 2 361,122 Raney et a1 Oct. 24, 1944 2,401,159 Hunter May 28, 1946 2,405,334 Silver Aug. 6, 1946 

